Berkeley Heights Fire Department

🚨 URGENT: Carbon Monoxide Safety Reminder During Extended Power Outages

➡️ During the recent storm, the Berkeley Heights Fire Department has responded to approximately a dozen incidents involving Generac whole-home standby generators and carbon monoxide incidents.

➡️ If you are operating a whole-home standby generator during an extended power outage, it is important to follow the manufacturer's operating and maintenance instructions, especially during continuous or long-duration use. Never ignore a carbon monoxide alarm, even if you believe your generator is operating properly.

➡️ Every home should have working carbon monoxide alarms installed on every level of the home and outside all sleeping areas. Test your alarms regularly and replace batteries as needed. If a carbon monoxide alarm activates, immediately move everyone outdoors to fresh air, call 911, and do not re-enter the home until emergency responders determine it is safe.

➡️ Standby generators are designed to provide reliable backup power, but like any fuel-burning appliance, they can produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide if they malfunction or if exhaust gases enter the home.

➡️ Please stay safe, follow the manufacturer's recommendations, and ensure your carbon monoxide alarms are installed, tested, and functioning properly.

📣 Customers who are without power due to yesterday's storms can pick up free water and ice at several local stores. You can obtain a voucher at the Customer Service desk.
Find locations here: http://spr.ly/6012RTAJa

📣 Customers who are without power due to yesterday's storms can pick up free water and ice at several local stores. You can obtain a voucher at the Customer Service desk.

Find locations here: http://spr.ly/6012RTAJa

Stay safe!